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Your gaming headset’s microphone might be adequate for chatting with your friends, but many gamers who are interested in creating content for websites like YouTube and Twitch have discovered that these platforms benefit from better sound quality. An excellent USB microphone can be an excellent compromise between using headphones and buying pricey condenser mics and mix boards.
From the entry-level SoloCast to the top-of-the-line QuadCast S, HyperX has produced some very competitive microphones in this market. They have now unveiled a new model that falls somewhere in the middle. The new HyperX DuoCast offers cardioid and omnidirectional polar patterns in addition to many of the same features and design elements. The value of adaptable and potent technology is spreading like wildfire as the worlds of gaming and content creation converge. The development of gear that will benefit both experienced and aspiring streamers is a top priority for brands.
For many years, HyperX has been working to close that gap. The DuoCast, their newest USB-powered microphone, aims to provide everything a gamer requires to be broadcast-ready. The DuoCast aims to give streamers a professional option by coming with simple-to-use controls, a programmable RGB strip light, and an integrated shock mount. The DuoCast aims to be a master of all trades for gamers with support for Windows, Mac, PS4 and PS5. also you can read our article on HyperX DuoCast review.
Design
In terms of both function and aesthetics, the HyperX DuoCast falls right in the middle of the company’s line of products. With a height of 8 inches (203mm) (with the stand), it is even medium-sized; it is bigger than the 7.1-inch SoloCast and smaller than the 9.5-inch QuadCast. The DuoCast appears to be a scaled-down, less glitzy, and marginally less expensive counterpart of the QuadCast. It has the same honeycomb-perforated capsule-shaped body as the QuadCast, but it’s made of matte black plastic rather than the more expensive aluminum. It also has a low-profile shock mount.
Except for the thin RGB lightstrip wrapped around its middle, which is a toned-down version of the QuadCast’s full-body pop filter light display, the DuoCast is all black. One of HyperX’s best design elements is a touch-sensitive tap-to-mute button on the top of the DuoCast. There is no audible popping or shuffling when you tap this button to mute or unmute the microphone, unlike when you use a physical mute button or switch. For quick visual confirmation, the RGB lightstrip is turned off when the microphone is muted.
Additionally, the DuoCast has a gain control adjustment knob that, when turned, serves as a multi-purpose button for alternating between the two polar patterns of the microphone. The 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port, and this knob are all found on the mic’s back. Along with a 6.5-foot USB-C to USB-A cable, the DuoCast is packaged with a mount adapter that works with both 3/8-inch and 5/8-inch thread sizes.
HyperX DuoCast review: Feature
Thankfully, the tap-to-mute function seen on the QuadCast is still there on the DuoCast. You may turn off the microphone by simply touching its top, which is arguably one of the nicest implementations we have seen on a microphone. Since the sensor is so sensitive, even a feather-like touch will disable the microphone. It never gets in the way, and unless you are handling the microphone carelessly, you won’t accidentally mute yourself.
A control adjustment knob, a USB port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for sidetone purposes are all located on the back of the device. When pressed, the adjustment knob, which also functions as a gain control, changes the polar pattern. With the exception of the gain control, which doesn’t appear to save the settings when you change the gain using the HyperX NGenuity software, both of these features function as intended.
Software
The Ngenuity software download is cost-free and significantly improves the experience. Despite the DuoCast’s ease of plug-and-play and lack of software requirements, we advise downloading it on a PC because it enhances the user experience. You can control your RGB lighting and fine-tune your audio settings with Ngenuity. you will check our article on HyperX DuoCast review.
On the audio side, Ngenuity is incredibly user-friendly, neat, and provides users with a fantastic interface to change the mic settings. You can quickly change the polar patterns, engage the high pass filter, mute, monitor volume, and mic gain. There are numerous patterns and effects available for the RGB lighting adjustments, which are enjoyable. Finally, presets can be made for both lighting and audio, making it simple to activate your preferred settings.
HyperX DuoCast review: RGB light
All of the aforementioned functions also use the RGB light as an indication. The light briefly changes colour when you adjust mic gain to show how much gain you have added or subtracted. The RGB light will momentarily show a light pattern consistent with the selected polar profile when switching between polar profiles. The RGB light turns off to show that the microphone is muted when the tap-to-mute button at the top of the microphone is touched. It’s a clever use of the RGB strip and speaks to the DuoCast’s smart, straightforward, and practical design as a whole.
Sound Quality
A USB microphone with some great features and performance is the DuoCast. The mic was easy to set up because both our PC and Mac recognised it right away, allowing us to put it in and start recording. We began by inserting a set of headphones into the 3.5mm monitoring audio jack. The HyperX Ngenuity app is required to control your headphone monitoring volume. You must use the system’s volume controls if you’re using a PC or a Mac, but don’t worry, it’s incredibly plug and play and ready to use right out of the box.
There are two polar designs included with the DuoCast as well. When using the mic alone, the cardioid concentrates on recording the sounds that is produced directly in front of the mic. This functions best when you’re working alone on a stream, podcast, Google Meet, or voiceover recording. As we sat in front of it to record a test podcast, the cardioid pattern performed exceptionally well. We were pleased with the recording’s high calibre and the warm reproduction of our voice’s rich natural tones.
Performance
An incredibly capable microphone, the DuoCast. The vocals sound as natural as possible thanks to the recordings’ excellent clarity and ample body. The voice’s built-in pop filter also does a remarkable job of reducing plosives, but for absolute clarity, you might still want to buy an external filter to get rid of any incorrect ‘p’s and’s’s.
Despite this, the microphone struggles to effectively cancel out background noise. Even in the Cardioid mode, which is intended to capture sounds from a narrow area in front of the microphone, it will still pick up background noises like computer fans or mechanical keyboard clicks. The noise filter is respectable for a USB condenser-based microphone, but it can’t match some of the more expensive XLR microphones.
The sample recording is shown below and was made with Audacity on a Windows 11 PC while the microphone’s Cardioid polar pattern was selected, mic gain was set to 50, and mic volume was set to 100. With the room’s air conditioning turned off and just two 200mm PC fans running in the background, the DuoCast was mounted on a boom arm.
Price and availability
The DuoCast has a functional, plug-and-play design that is both straightforward and elegant for gaming and streaming microphones. The HyperX DuoCast USB mic is being offered for $99 from HyperX. In contrast, you’ll pay $129 for the MSI GV60 and $107 for the JLab Talk Pro. you will learn our article on HyperX DuoCast review.
HyperX DuoCast review: Conclusion
The capacitive mute switch and subtle RGB illumination are two elements of the HyperX DuoCast that are well-implemented and produce a good sound. You could or might not care about the body’s shock-mounted tendency to sway. Overall, the DuoCast adds to a collection of outstanding microphones that we continue to recommend to people looking for the best USB microphones for the money. Only the tiniest flaws jeopardies HyperX’s otherwise excellent products, which deliver in all the right places.